ISCO-08 7213
Sheet-metal workers
14.8%
ADI · 326th of 433 · 95% interval 5.8–26.3
An AI agent can at least partly carry out 14.8% of the task time of sheet-metal workers, and finish 0.0% alone. Most of the rest requires physical presence.
ADI · partial or full14.8%
326th of 433 · interval 5.8–26.3
ADI3 · full delegation0.0%
201st of 433 · interval 0.0–0.0
ADIs · share of time18.6%
328th of 433 · interval 13.6–24.2
Evidence51
task statements rated by two models and weighted by importance and frequency. World employment: 0.9 million.
Task weight by level
How the tasks rate
L0No meaningful role · 55.7%L1Augmentation · 29.6%L2Partial delegation · 14.8%L3Full delegation · 0.0%
Barriers
What stops the agent
Share of task weight flagged by each barrier; a task can carry several.
51 task statements, heaviest first
| Task statement (O*NET occupation) | Weight | Level | Sonnet · Haiku | Share | Human time | Barriers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inspect individual parts, assemblies, or installations, using measuring instruments, such as calipers, scales, or micrometers.Sheet Metal Workers · supplemental task | 3.4% | L1 | L1L1 | 12% | 15 min | Physical presence, Accountability, Access to systems |
| Study blueprints to determine locations, relationships, or dimensions of parts.Boilermakers | 3.1% | L2 | L2L2 | 60% | 38 min | Access to systems |
| Fabricate or alter parts at construction sites, using shears, hammers, punches, or drills.Sheet Metal Workers | 2.9% | L0 | L0L1 | 8% | 1.0 h | Physical presence, Accountability, Access to systems |
| Assemble large vessels in an on-site fabrication shop prior to installation to ensure proper fit.Boilermakers · supplemental task | 2.7% | L0 | L0L1 | 12% | 7.0 h | Physical presence, Accountability, Access to systems |
| Inspect assembled vessels or individual components, such as tubes, fittings, valves, controls, or auxiliary mechanisms, to locate any defects.Boilermakers | 2.6% | L1 | L1L1 | 18% | 1.0 h | Physical presence, Accountability, Access to systems |
| Examine boilers, pressure vessels, tanks, or vats to locate defects, such as leaks, weak spots, or defective sections, so that they can be repaired.Boilermakers | 2.6% | L1 | L1L1 | 15% | 2.0 h | Physical presence, Accountability, Access to systems |
| Fasten seams or joints together with welds, bolts, cement, rivets, solder, caulks, metal drive clips, or bonds to assemble components into products or to repair sheet metal items.Sheet Metal Workers | 2.6% | L0 | L0L1 | 6% | 1.0 h | Physical presence, Accountability |
| Lay out plate, sheet steel, or other heavy metal and locate and mark bending and cutting lines, using protractors, compasses, and drawing instruments or templates.Boilermakers | 2.6% | L1 | L1L2 | 30% | 1.3 h | Physical presence, Access to systems |
| Transport prefabricated parts to construction sites for assembly and installation.Sheet Metal Workers | 2.5% | L0 | L0L0 | 8% | 2.5 h | Physical presence, Accountability, Access to systems |
| Determine project requirements, such as scope, assembly sequences, or required methods or materials, using blueprints, drawings, or written or verbal instructions.Sheet Metal Workers | 2.5% | L2 | L2L2 | 60% | 1.5 h | Access to systems |
| Fabricate ducts for high efficiency heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems to maximize efficiency of systems.Sheet Metal Workers | 2.5% | L1 | L1L2 | 25% | 3.0 h | Physical presence |
| Maintain equipment, making repairs or modifications when necessary.Sheet Metal Workers | 2.5% | L1 | L1L2 | 22% | 1.8 h | Physical presence, Access to systems |
| Install assemblies, such as flashing, pipes, tubes, heating and air conditioning ducts, furnace casings, rain gutters, or downspouts in supportive frameworks.Sheet Metal Workers | 2.5% | L0 | L0L1 | 6% | 3.0 h | Physical presence, Accountability, Access to systems |
| Position, align, and secure structural parts or related assemblies to boiler frames, tanks, or vats of pressure vessels, following blueprints.Boilermakers | 2.3% | L0 | L0L1 | 8% | 1.8 h | Physical presence, Accountability, Access to systems |
| Bell, bead with power hammers, or weld pressure vessel tube ends to ensure leakproof joints.Boilermakers | 2.3% | L0 | L0L0 | 4% | 1.4 h | Physical presence, Accountability, Access to systems |
Show the other 36 tasks
| Task statement (O*NET occupation) | Weight | Level | Sonnet · Haiku | Share | Human time | Barriers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lay out, measure, and mark dimensions and reference lines on material, such as roofing panels, using calculators, scribes, dividers, squares, or rulers.Sheet Metal Workers | 2.3% | L1 | L1L1 | 20% | 30 min | Physical presence |
| Conduct pressure tests on vessels, such as boilers.Boilermakers | 2.2% | L0 | L0L1 | 12% | 3.5 h | Physical presence, Accountability, Access to systems |
| Shape or fabricate parts, such as stacks, uptakes, or chutes, to adapt pressure vessels, heat exchangers, or piping to premises, using heavy-metalworking machines such as brakes, rolls, or drill presses.Boilermakers | 2.2% | L0 | L0L1 | 12% | 4.0 h | Physical presence, Accountability |
| Trim, file, grind, deburr, buff, or smooth surfaces, seams, or joints of assembled parts, using hand tools or portable power tools.Sheet Metal Workers | 2.2% | L0 | L0L0 | 2% | 30 min | Physical presence |
| Clean pressure vessel equipment, using scrapers, wire brushes, and cleaning solvents.Boilermakers | 2.2% | L0 | L0L0 | 2% | 2.5 h | Physical presence, Accountability, Access to systems |
| Shape seams, joints, or irregular edges of pressure vessel sections or structural parts to attain specified fit of parts, using cutting torches, hammers, files, or metalworking machines.Boilermakers | 2.1% | L0 | L0L0 | 4% | 1.5 h | Physical presence, Accountability, Access to systems |
| Repair or replace defective pressure vessel parts, such as safety valves or regulators, using torches, jacks, caulking hammers, power saws, threading dies, welding equipment, or metalworking machinery.Boilermakers | 2.1% | L0 | L0L1 | 9% | 3.0 h | Physical presence, Accountability, Access to systems |
| Locate and mark reference points for columns or plates on boiler foundations, following blueprints and using straightedges, squares, transits, or measuring instruments.Boilermakers | 2.1% | L1 | L1L1 | 15% | 2.0 h | Physical presence, Access to systems |
| Convert blueprints into shop drawings to be followed in the construction or assembly of sheet metal products.Sheet Metal Workers · supplemental task | 2.0% | L2 | L2L2 | 60% | 3.3 h | Accountability, Access to systems |
| Bolt or arc weld pressure vessel structures and parts together, using wrenches or welding equipment.Boilermakers | 1.9% | L0 | L0L0 | 2% | 3.0 h | Physical presence, Accountability, Access to systems |
| Shape metal material over anvils, blocks, or other forms, using hand tools.Sheet Metal Workers | 1.9% | L0 | L0L0 | 4% | 38 min | Physical presence |
| Fit and align fabricated parts to be welded or assembled.Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic | 1.9% | L0 | L0L1 | 8% | 45 min | Physical presence |
| Attach rigging and signal crane or hoist operators to lift heavy frame and plate sections or other parts into place.Boilermakers | 1.9% | L0 | L0L0 | 4% | 30 min | Physical presence, Accountability, Trust and care, Access to systems |
| Mark curves, lines, holes, dimensions, and welding symbols onto workpieces, using scribes, soapstones, punches, and hand drills.Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic | 1.9% | L0 | L0L0 | 5% | 42 min | Physical presence, Access to systems |
| Select gauges or types of sheet metal or nonmetallic material, according to product specifications.Sheet Metal Workers | 1.9% | L2 | L2L2 | 65% | 25 min | Access to systems |
| Hire, train, or supervise new employees or apprentices.Sheet Metal Workers | 1.8% | L1 | L1L2 | 32% | 4.5 h | Physical presence, Accountability, Trust and care, Access to systems |
| Straighten or reshape bent pressure vessel plates or structure parts, using hammers, jacks, or torches.Boilermakers | 1.8% | L0 | L0L1 | 6% | 1.8 h | Physical presence, Accountability |
| Install manholes, handholes, taps, tubes, valves, gauges, or feedwater connections in drums of water tube boilers, using hand tools.Boilermakers | 1.8% | L0 | L0L0 | 4% | 2.8 h | Physical presence, Accountability, Access to systems |
| Lay out and fabricate metal structural parts such as plates, bulkheads, and frames.Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic | 1.7% | L1 | L1L1 | 18% | 3.0 h | Physical presence, Access to systems |
| Verify that heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems are designed, installed, and calibrated in accordance with green certification standards, such as those of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED).Sheet Metal Workers · supplemental task | 1.6% | L1 | L1L2 | 38% | 4.0 h | Physical presence, Accountability, Access to systems |
| Brace parts in position within hulls or ships for riveting or welding.Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic · supplemental task | 1.6% | L0 | L0L0 | 3% | 45 min | Physical presence, Accountability, Access to systems |
| Lift and position workpieces in relation to surface plates, manually or with hoists, and using parallel blocks and angle plates.Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic | 1.6% | L0 | L0L0 | 2% | 18 min | Physical presence |
| Plan and develop layouts from blueprints and templates, applying knowledge of trigonometry, design, effects of heat, and properties of metals.Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic | 1.6% | L2 | L2L2 | 48% | 2.5 h | Physical presence, Access to systems |
| Locate center lines and verify template positions, using measuring instruments such as gauge blocks, height gauges, and dial indicators.Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic | 1.6% | L0 | L0L1 | 10% | 38 min | Physical presence |
| Plan locations and sequences of cutting, drilling, bending, rolling, punching, and welding operations, using compasses, protractors, dividers, and rules.Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic | 1.6% | L2 | L2L2 | 55% | 52 min | Physical presence, Access to systems |
| Compute layout dimensions, and determine and mark reference points on metal stock or workpieces for further processing, such as welding and assembly.Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic | 1.5% | L1 | L1L2 | 38% | 45 min | Physical presence |
| Install doors, hatches, brackets, and clips.Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic · supplemental task | 1.4% | L0 | L0L0 | 4% | 38 min | Physical presence |
| Fasten roof panel edges or machine-made moldings to structures by nailing or welding.Sheet Metal Workers · supplemental task | 1.4% | L0 | L0L1 | 6% | 52 min | Physical presence, Accountability |
| Finish parts, using hacksaws or hand, rotary, or squaring shears.Sheet Metal Workers · supplemental task | 1.3% | L0 | L0L0 | 4% | 22 min | Physical presence |
| Install refractory bricks or other heat-resistant materials in fireboxes of pressure vessels.Boilermakers · supplemental task | 1.3% | L0 | L0L0 | 4% | 6.0 h | Physical presence, Accountability, Access to systems |
| Inspect machined parts to verify conformance to specifications.Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic · supplemental task | 1.2% | L1 | L1L2 | 25% | 22 min | Physical presence, Accountability, Access to systems |
| Maneuver completed roofing units into position for installation.Sheet Metal Workers | 1.1% | L0 | L0L0 | 4% | 40 min | Physical presence, Accountability |
| Add dimensional details to blueprints or drawings made by other workers.Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic · supplemental task | 1.1% | L2 | L2L2 | 60% | 45 min | Access to systems |
| Perform building commissioning activities by completing mechanical inspections of a building's water, lighting, or heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.Sheet Metal Workers · supplemental task | 1.1% | L1 | L1L2 | 22% | 3.5 h | Physical presence, Accountability, Access to systems |
| Design and prepare templates of wood, paper, or metal.Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic | 1.0% | L2 | L2L2 | 48% | 1.5 h | Physical presence |
| Apply pigment to layout surfaces, using paint brushes.Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic · supplemental task | 0.4% | L0 | L0L0 | 2% | 30 min | Physical presence, Access to systems |
Level: consensus of the two models (the lower level when they disagree). Share: part of the task’s working time an agent could take over. Human time: minutes a competent person needs for one instance, as estimated by the models.
Against other measures
Exposure is not delegation
| Measure | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| ADI (this index) | 14.8% | 25 |
| Eloundou et al. (2024), GPT exposure β | 0.067 | 11 |
| Felten et al. (2021), AI occupational exposure | -1.053 | 18 |
| Webb (2020), AI patent exposure | 46.2 | 35 |
| Eisfeldt et al. (2026), generative AI exposure | 0.032 | 20 |
| Anthropic Economic Index, observed use | 0 | 16 |
Earlier indices measure whether AI can touch a task; ADI measures how much of it an agent can carry out from a goal. – : the source does not cover this occupation.
Same sub-major group (72)
Neighbouring occupations
| Occupation | ADI | % |
|---|---|---|
| Toolmakers and related workers 7222 | 29.6 | |
| Bicycle and related repairers 7234 | 28.2 | |
| Aircraft engine mechanics and repairers 7232 | 21.4 | |
| Metal working machine tool setters and operators 7223 | 17.4 | |
| Agricultural and industrial machinery mechanics and repairers 7233 | 14.7 | |
| Structural-metal preparers and erectors 7214 | 10.5 | |
| Welders and flamecutters 7212 | 9.9 | |
| Blacksmiths, hammersmiths and forging press workers 7221 | 9.1 | |
| Riggers and cable splicers 7215 | 7.9 | |
| Motor vehicle mechanics and repairers 7231 | 7.1 | |
| Metal polishers, wheel grinders and tool sharpeners 7224 | 4.1 | |
| Metal moulders and coremakers 7211 | 2.3 |
Dashed line: sheet-metal workers (14.8%).
Cite this record
Text
Espinal Maya, Cristian, and Santiago Jiménez Londoño. 2026. ADI v2026.1: Agent Delegability Index data, code and MCP server. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23552918. Record: Sheet-metal workers (ISCO-08 7213), https://balamlabs.org/adi/occupations/7213
BibTeX
@misc{espinal2026adidata,
title = {{ADI} v2026.1: Agent Delegability Index data, code and {MCP} server},
author = {Espinal Maya, Cristian and Jim{\'e}nez Londo{\~n}o, Santiago},
year = {2026},
publisher = {Zenodo},
version = {v2026.1},
doi = {10.5281/zenodo.23552918},
url = {https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23552918},
note = {Record: Sheet-metal workers (ISCO-08 7213)}
}Machine-readable
The same record as static JSON, with its citation: /adi/v2026.1/isco/7213.json.